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Definitions

• the present invention relates to host cells that can function as neurons obtained by introduction and expression of von Hippel-Lindau gene (VHL gene) in cancer cells such as neuroblastoma cells, anaplastic oncocytes derived from the nerve system, or embryonic stem cells.
• VHL gene von Hippel-Lindau gene
• the present invention relates to the above host cells for treating patients with diseases associated with neurological functional disorder by grafting the host cells to the central nerve system or peripheral nerves so as to take, and allowing the host cells to function as neurons.
• a neuron is a main element controlling the life activity of an individual higher organism. It had been thought that neurons of the central nerve system perform neither postnatal differentiation nor regeneration, but only deciduate from one minute to the next. However in the 1990s, neuronal stem cells which had not yet differentiated into neurons were found in a fetal brain, and further the presence of neuronal stem cells in an adult brain was also proved. Thus, the possibility of regeneration of the central nerve system has been suggested. Now, possible therapy using neuronal stem cells for intractable neuronal diseases, and therapy using embryonic stem cells (ES cells, also called as universal cells which can differentiate into any type of cells) are stepping into the limelight.
• ES cells embryonic stem cells
• VHL gene and VHL gene products may play a role from the developmental stage of neurons based on the fact that they are specifically expressed in neurons of the central nerve system. Accordingly, our studies on expression of VHL gene products in neuronal stem cells have revealed that VHL gene products are mainly expressed in the cytoplasm as neuronal stem cells differentiate into neurons. Further, introduction of VHL gene into neuronal stem cells using a herpes simplex virus vector resulted in promotion of differentiation into neurons. Hence, we have shown that VHL gene is a gene involved in induction of neuronal differentiation in neuronal stem cells (Kanno H: Cancer Res 2820-4, 2000). However, neuronal stem cells are known from the beginning to differentiate into either neurons or glial cells. Addition of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) into a medium also results in a similar phenomenon. Therefore, whether or not VHL gene itself possesses an ability to induce direct differentiation into nerves remains unknown.
• bFGF basic fibroblast growth factor
• immortalized cancer cells or ES cells can be cultured in vitro infinitely.
• the mechanism of their differentiation is unknown and almost nothing is revealed about a possible application thereof to regenerative medicine.
• engineering of which gene (and how differentiation occurs) can be applied to regenerative medicine remains unknown.
• no one has succeeded in inducing differentiation into neurons by simply introducing a specific gene into immortalized cancer cells or ES cells for which it is very difficult to induce differentiation into neurons compared to neuronal stem cells.
• neuroblastoma cells which are established from neuroblastoma, a kind of childhood cancer, developed from adrenal gland
• neuroblastoma cells do not differentiate into true neurons having function to transmit electric signals.
• Known methods for differentiating cultured ES cells into neuronal stem cells and then to neurons include a method which adds retinoic acid into a medium (Fraichard A, et al.: J Cell Sci 108: 3181-8, 1995) and a method which adds basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) to cause differentiation to neurons at a relatively high rate (Okabe S, et al.: Mech Dev 59: 89-102, 1996).
• bFGF basic fibroblast growth factor
• the purpose of the present invention is to provide host cells that can function as neurons obtainable by introduction and expression of VHL gene in cancer cells or embryonic stem cells. Another purpose of the present invention is to provide a method for obtaining neurons for treating patients with diseases associated with damaged neurological function from neuroblastoma cells, anaplastic oncocytes derived from the nerve system, or embryonic stem cells. Still another purpose of the present invention is to provide a method for inhibiting differentiation from cancer cells or ES cells into neurons by antisense techniques.
• VHL gene introduction of a VHL gene into cancer cells, such as neuroblastoma cells and anaplastic oncocytes derived from the nerve system enables differentiation into neurons, and introduction of a VHL gene into embryonic stem cells enables differentiation into neurons via neuronal stem cells.
• the present invention encompasses the following inventions.
• a VHL gene which is the causative gene of von Hippel-Lindau disease, a hereditary disease causing brain tumor (hemangioblastoma) or renal cell carcinoma, is a kind of a tumor suppressor gene.
• This gene was isolated from human chromosome 3 by Dr. Zbar et al.'s group (U.S.A.) in 1993. It has been reported that the VHL gene and the protein are expressed in neurons. However, the function of this gene in the nerve system was unknown. We considered that the gene may be involved in the formation of the nerve system at fetal developmental stages and studied differentiation over time of neuronal stem cells isolated from a rat fetal brain. Thus, we have found that VHL proteins are expressed in neurons as neuronal stem cells differentiate into neurons.
• the present invention is based on the following findings:
• VHL gene has the ability to induce neuronal differentiation in neuronal stem cells
• VHL gene can induce neuronal differentiation also in other cells of the nerve system.
• We have obtained neuroblastoma, in which VHL genes are always strongly expressed by introducing VHL gene using a plasmid expression vector with VHL gene incorporated therein, into immortalized cells of human neuroblastoma (a kind of childhood cancer) that has developed from the neurons of the adrenal gland. Then, we have examined the properties of the obtained cells. As a result, the morphology of the cell changed in a way typical of neurons, expression of genes and proteins found only in neurons was confirmed, and the miniature potential across the cell membrane found only in neurons was also confirmed.
• VHL gene induces differentiation from neuronal stem cells to neurons (Kanno H, et al.: Cancer Research 60:2840-2824, 2000). No gene having such an ability has been reported so far.
• VHL gene into embryonic stem cells in a similar way, which are an origin for all cells, showing that most cells differentiated into neurons via neuronal stem cells.
• the neurons produced by the method can be applied to therapy for the above diseases with disrupted nerve (intractable neuronal diseases) by grafting the neurons.
• VHLcDNA used as VHL gene to be introduced into host cells can be obtained by the following method. First, normal brain or renal tissue is homogenized with guanidine isothiocyanate-containing phenol or phenol/chloroform solution. Then the product is separated into an aqueous layer and an organic layer by high speed centrifugation, the aqueous layer is added to isopropanol to precipitate total RNA contained therein, and then the precipitate is collected. Next, cDNA is synthesized from mRNA in the presence of reverse transcriptase.
• PCR polymerase chain reaction
• Examples of such a vector that can be used include animal virus vectors, for example, retrovirus or vaccinia virus.
• a method may be used which involves cleaving the purified DNA containing the above VHL gene with appropriate restriction enzymes, and inserting into the restriction enzyme site or multicloning site of an appropriate vector DNA to ligate to the vector.
• VHL gene should be incorporated into a vector so that it can exert its function.
• a sequence containing a cis-element such as an enhancer, a splicing signal consisting of a splicing donor site located on the 5′ terminus of an intron and a splicing acceptor site located on the 3′ terminus of an intron, poly (A) addition signal, selectable marker, ribosome binding sequence (SD sequence) and the like can be linked to the vector of the present invention.
• a selectable marker include a dihydrofolate reductase gene, ampicillin resistance gene, and neomycin resistance gene.
• a SR ⁇ promoter, SV40 promoter, LTR promoter, CMV promoter or the like is used as a promoter.
• An early gene promoter of human cytomegalo virus and the like may also be used.
• Examples of a method for introducing a recombinant vector into an animal cell include electroporation, a calcium phosphate method, and a lipofection method.
• Culturing of the transformant of the present invention is performed according to a method normally employed for culturing a host.
• Culturing is normally performed by shake culture or culture with aeration-agitation under aerobic conditions at 37° C. Further, pH of a medium is adjusted using inorganic or organic acid, alkali solution or the like.
• Examples of a medium used herein for culturing transformants include a generally employed RPMI 1640 medium, DMEM medium, or these media supplemented with fetal calf serum and the like.
• Culturing is normally performed in the presence of 5% CO 2 at 37° C. for 1 to 30 days. If necessary, antibiotics, such as kanamycin, penicillin and the like may be added to a medium while culturing.
• VHL gene is incorporated into a plasmid expression vector (pcDNA3.1, Invitrogen; the vector contains a CMV promoter, a SV40 replication origin, a neomycin resistance gene, a ColE1, an ampicillin resistance gene and the like) having a neomycin resistance gene incorporated therein.
• a plasmid expression vector pcDNA3.1, Invitrogen; the vector contains a CMV promoter, a SV40 replication origin, a neomycin resistance gene, a ColE1, an ampicillin resistance gene and the like
• the plasmid expression vector pcDNA3.1 with VHL gene incorporated therein is introduced into neuroblastoma cells (SH-SY5Y) cultured in a DMEM or DMEM/F12 medium, which is prepared to have a neomycin (Genecitin, GIBCO BRL) concentration of 200 ⁇ g/mL and supplemented with 10% fetal calf serum, using a transfection reagent (EffecteneTM,transfection reagent (QIAGEN)). Only expressing clones are selected and allowed to proliferate.
• a cell used for introduction may be a neuroblastoma cell other than SH-SY5Y.
• a vector used herein may be an expression vector other than a plasmid expression vector.
• cancer cells such as neuroblastoma cells (SH-SY5Y) are cultured in a DMEM medium (containing 10% fetal calf serum), while adhering to the bottom of a petri dish 3003 (Falcon) under conditions of 5% CO 2 and 37° C. within a carbon dioxide culture apparatus. Sub-culturing is performed every 4 days at a 1:6 split ratio.
• DMEM medium containing 10% fetal calf serum
• neuroblastoma cells can be cultured in DMEM or DMEM/F12 medium, which is prepared to have a neomycin (Genecitin, GIBCO BRL) concentration of 200 ⁇ g/mL and supplemented with 10% fetal calf serum, while adhering to the bottom of a petri dish 3003 (Falcon) under conditions of 5% CO 2 and 37° C. within a Carbon dioxide culture apparatus. Sub-culturing of the cells is performed every 6 days at a 1:6 split ratio.
• DMEM or DMEM/F12 medium which is prepared to have a neomycin (Genecitin, GIBCO BRL) concentration of 200 ⁇ g/mL and supplemented with 10% fetal calf serum, while adhering to the bottom of a petri dish 3003 (Falcon) under conditions of 5% CO 2 and 37° C. within a Carbon dioxide culture apparatus.
• Sub-culturing of the cells is performed every 6 days at a
• ES cells are cultured according to Bain et al.'s method (Bain G, et al.: Developmental Biology 168: 342-357, 1995).
• VHL proteins and neuron specific proteins in cancer cells are examined by the following method.
• NPY, NFH, and MAPs are examined as neuron specific proteins.
• This method is performed according to the method described in the paper by Kanno et al. (Kanno H, et al.: Cancer Res 60: 2820-2824, 2000) by a fluorescence immuno-staining method. Observation is made using confocal laser fluorescence microscopy.
• the VHL protein and neuron specific protein are expressed in the same cell at the same time.
• cancer cells neuroblastoma cells, anaplastic oncocytes derived from the nerve system
• ES cells host cells
• VHL gene introduced therein are observed using a phase contrast microscope. When the cells have differentiated into mature neurons, varicosity will be observed on the neurite.
• Electroneurophysiological findings are examined by the following method. When cells are pricked with micro needle electrodes and intracellular potential is measured in patch clamp method, large sodium channel and potassium channel currents, such as those seen in neurons, are measured.
• Cancer cells (neuroblastoma cells, anaplastic oncocytes derived from the nerve system) and ES cells (host cells) with VHL gene introduced therein are grafted by the following method.
• host cells are previously well washed with a serum-free medium, such as DMEM, and then prepared in physiological saline at a concentration of 100,000 cells or more/0.1 mL.
• a serum-free medium such as DMEM
• the present invention provides an oligonucleotide which targets for nucleic acids encoding VHL and can inhibit expression of VHL.
• a preferred oligonucleotide of the present invention is a chimeric oligonucleotide.
• the chimeric oligonucleotide comprises at least one nucleotide and contains two or more chemically different regions.
• the oligonucleotides also comprise at least one modified nucleotide region which confers one or more advantageous properties (for example, increased nuclease resistance, and increased intake into a cell and increased binding affinity to RNA target) and a region which is a substrate for RNaseH cleavage.
• a chimeric oligonucleotide comprises at least one region which is modified to increase binding affinity with a target, and a region which normally functions as a substrate for RNaseH.
• the affinity of an oligonucleotide to nucleic acids encoding VHL is determined by measuring Tm of a pair of oligonucleotide/target, which is a temperature at which the oligonucleotide and the target dissociate from each other.
• Tm a temperature at which the oligonucleotide and the target dissociate from each other.
• a high Tm increases the affinity of an oligonucleotide to a target.
• the region of an oligonucleotide which is modified to increase VHL mRNA binding affinity comprises 2′—O-alkyl or 2′-Fluoro-modified nucleotide and the like in which a sugar molecule at position 2′ is modified.
• the above modified oligonucleotide has binding affinity for a target higher than that of 2′-deoxyoligonucleotide.
• the effect of such increased affinity increases inhibition of VHL gene expression by an antisense oligonucleotide.
• RNaseH is a cellular endonuclease which cleaves the RNA strand of a RNA:DNA duplex. Activation of this enzyme causes the RNA target to be cleaved and makes antisense inhibition more effective.
• chimeric oligonucleotides are also modified to enhance nuclease resistance.
• oligonucleotides Since cells contain various exo- and endo-nucleases which decompose nucleic acids, introduction of many modified nucleotides and nucleosides into oligonucleotides make the oligonucleotides to be more resistant to nuclease digestion compared to natural oligonucleotides. Nuclease resistance is measured by incubating oligonucleotides together with cell extracts or isolated nuclease solution, and quantifying remaining original oligonucleotides by gel electrophoresis. A modified oligonucleotide has a longer life time than that of an unmodified oligonucleotide. A preferred oligonucleotide comprises at least one phosphorothioate modification. Modified oligonucleotides with enhanced binding affinity for target nucleic acids can increase nuclease resistance.
• a preferred oligonucleotide of the present invention contains phosphorothioate, phosphotriester, methylphosphonate bonds and the like.
• the most preferred oligonucleotide contains phosphorothioate and CH 2 —NH—O—CH 2 and the like.
• the phosphodiester main chain of an oligonucleotide for example, protein-nucleic acid or peptide-nucleic acid (PNA) main chain, may be substituted with a polyamide main chain.
• Other preferred oligonucleotides may contain one of OH, SH, SCH 3 , F. OCN, OCH 3 OCH 3 groups and the like at position 2′.
• the length of the antisense oligonucleotide of the present invention is preferably approximately 8 to 50 nucleotides.
• an oligomer which comprises 8 to 50 nucleotides and does not exist in nature may be included.
• the antisense oligonucleotide of the present invention can by synthesized by a known solid phase synthesis method.
• a device for solid phase synthesis is, for example, marketed by Applied Biosystems.
• Another method for producing oligonucleotides using phosphorothioate and alkylating derivatives may be used.
• oligonucleotide which targets for part of VHL mRNA has been found to be especially useful in inhibiting VHL expression.
• antisense oligonucleotides are those represented by the following SEQ ID NOS: 3 and 4.
• tissues or cells are allowed to contact with antisense oligonucleotides. That is, in the present invention, tissues or cells are allowed to contact with one or more antisense oligonucleotides by adding antisense oligonucleotides in vitro or ex vivo to a cell suspension or a tissue sample; or administering antisense oligonucleotides to cells or tissues in an animal.
• the present invention provides a method for inhibiting cells for the purpose of therapy.
• the antisense oligonucleotides of the present invention, together with pharmaceutically applicable carriers, are administered to a patient to be treated in doses and for time periods which vary depending on the properties of a certain disease, its severity and the overall conditions of the patient.
• the pharmaceutical composition of the present invention is administered locally, orally or parenterally, for example by intravenous drip, intravenous, subcutaneous, intraperitoneal or intramuscular injection.
• Examples of a pharmaceutical formulation for local administration include paste, lotion, cream, gel, drop, suppository, spray, solution and powder.
• Normal pharmaceutical carriers such as aqueous, powdery or oil base, thickener and the like are used.
• compositions for oral administration include a powdered drug or a granule, a suspension pharmaceutical, water, water insoluble powder, a capsule, and a tablet.
• a thickener, flavoring agent, diluent, emulsifier, dispersing agent, binder or the like may be used.
• Examples of a formulation for parenteral administration include a buffer, a diluent and a sterile aqueous solution which may contain other appropriate additives.
• cationic fluid may be added to a pharmaceutical formulation to facilitate the intake of antisense oligonucleotides.
• Dosage will vary depending on the severity of the conditions and the response of a patient to be treated. Treatment is continued for several days to several months until the therapy is achieved or the disease conditions are alleviated.
• the optimum dosage plan can be established by determining the optimum dosage, manner of administration and frequency of repetition based on in vivo cumulative dosage. The optimum dosage varies depending on relative efficacy of respective antisense oligonucleotides, and it can be generally calculated based on EC 50 from in vitro and in vivo animal experiments. For example, an applied dose at mg/kg can be easily calculated from the molecular weight of a compound and the effective dose, such as IC 50 .
• VHLcDNA (g7-11), which was used as a VHL gene to be introduced, was obtained by the following method.
• normal renal tissue obtained from hypernephroma surgery was homogenized with guanidine isothionate-containing phenol or phenol/chloroform solution, and then separated into an aqueous layer and an organic layer by high speed centrifugation. The aqueous layer was added to isopropanol to precipitate total RNA obtained therein and the precipitate was collected.
• a region of interest was amplified by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method using a primer set of 5′-CTGAATTCACCATGCCCCGGAGGGCGGAG-3′ (SEQ ID NO:1) and 5′-GAGAATTCTCAATCTCCCATCCGTTGATG-3′ (SEQ ID NO: 2) and using a thermal cycler (MJ Research). Then the amplified product was purified using a DNA purification kit (Amicon), and then incorporated into a plasmid expression vector (pcDNA3.1, Invitrogen) containing a neomycin resistance gene incorporated therein.
• PCR polymerase chain reaction
• the plasmid expression vector pcDNA3.1 with VHL gene incorporated therein was introduced into neuroblastoma cells (SH-SY5Y) being cultured in a DMEM (GIBCO BRL) medium, which had been prepared to have a neomycin (Genecitin, GIBCO BRL) concentration of 200 ⁇ g/mL and supplemented with 10% fetal calf serum, using a transfection reagent, Effectene (QIAGEN). Only expressing clones were selected and allowed to proliferate.
• neuroblastoma cells (SH-SY5Y) were cultured in a DMEM medium containing 10% fetal calf serum, while adhering to the bottom of a petri dish 3003 (Falcon) under conditions of 5%: CO 2 and 37° C. within a carbon dioxide culture apparatus. Sub-culturing was performed every 4 days at a 1:6 split ratio.
• neuroblastoma cells (SH-SY5Y) were cultured in a DMEM medium which had been prepared to have a neomycin (Genecitin, GIBCO BRL) concentration of 200 ⁇ g/mL and supplemented with 10% fetal calf serum, while adhering to the bottom of a petri dish 3003 (Falcon) under conditions of 5% CO 2 and 37° C. within a Carbon dioxide culture apparatus. Sub-culturing of the cells was performed every 6 days at a 1:6 split ratio.
• a neomycin Genecitin, GIBCO BRL
• VHL proteins and neuron specific proteins in neuroblastoma cells SH-SY5Y (host cells) with VHL gene introduced therein was examined by the following method. NPY and NFH were examined as neuron specific proteins by a fluorescent immuno-staining method. This method was performed according to a paper by Kanno et al. (Kanno H, et al.: Cancer Res 60: 2820-2824, 2000). Observation was made using confocal laser fluorescence microscopy (Bio-Rad). The VHL protein and neuron specific protein were expressed in the same cell at the same time.
• the morphology of neuroblastoma cells SH-5YSY (host cells) with VHL gene introduced therein was observed using a phase contrast microscope. With cells which had differentiated into mature neurons, varicosity was observed on the neurite.
• Electroneurophysiological findings were examined by the following method.
• the cells were pricked with micro needle electrodes and intracellular potential was measured by a patch clamp method. Large sodium channel and potassium channel currents, such as those seen in neurons, were measured.
• Neuroblastoma cells SH-5YSY (host cells) with VHL gene introduced therein were grafted by the following method. That is, the host cells previously washed well with a medium, such as a serum-free DMEM, were prepared in physiological saline at a concentration of 100,000 cells or more/0.1 mL. Then, to graft into a brain, the 100,000 cells were injected to the striate body of the brain using a stereotaxic neurosurgical appliance.
• a medium such as a serum-free DMEM
• VHLcDNA used as VHL gene to be introduced was prepared by the following method. First, a normal renal tissue obtained from hypernephroma surgery was homogenized with guanidine isothiocyanate-containing phenol or phenol/chloroform solution, and then separated into an aqueous layer and an organic layer by high speed centrifugation. The aqueous layer was added to isopropanol to precipitate total RNA contained therein and the precipitate was collected.
• a region of interest was amplified by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method using a primer set of 5′-CTGAATTCACCATGCCCCGGAGGGCGGAG-3′ (SEQ ID NO: 1) and 5′-GAGAATTCTCAATCTCCCATCCGTTGATG-3′ (SEQ ID NO: 2) and using a thermal cycler (MJ Research). Then the amplified product was purified using DNA purification kit (Amicon), and then incorporated into a plasmid expression vector (pcDNA3.1, Invitrogen) containing a neomycin resistance gene incorporated therein.
• PCR polymerase chain reaction
• ES cells were cultured according to Bain et al.'s method (Bain G, et al.: Developmental Biology 168: 342-357, 1995).
• the plasmid expression vector pcDNA3.1 with VHL gene incorporated therein was added and introduced into a DMEM/F12 medium (GIBCO BRL), which had been prepared to have a neomycin (Genecitin, GIBCO BRL) concentration of 200 ⁇ g/mL and supplemented with 10% fetal calf serum, using a transfection reagent, Effectene (QIAGEN). Only expressing clones were selected and allowed to proliferate.
• VHL proteins and neuron specific proteins were examined as neuron specific proteins by a fluorescent immuno-staining method. This method was performed according to a paper by Kanno et al. (Kanno H, et al.: Cancer Res 60: 2820-2824, 2000). Observation was made using confocal laser fluorescence microscopy (Bio-Rad). The VHL protein and neuron specific protein were expressed in the same cell at the same time.
• ES cells host cells
• VHL gene introduced therein was observed using a phase contrast microscope. With cells that had differentiated into mature neurons, varicosity was observed on the neurite.
• Electroneurophysiological findings were examined by the following method.
• the cells were pricked with micro needle electrodes and intracellular potential was measured by a patch clamp method, large sodium channel and potassium channel currents, such as those seen in neurons, were measured.
• ES cells with VHL gene introduced therein were grafted by the following method. That is, the host cells previously washed well with a medium, such as a serum-free DMEM, were prepared in physiological saline at a concentration of 100,000 cells or more/0.1 mL. Then, to graft to a spinal cord, 100,000 cells were directly injected into the dura of the spinal cord, from which dorsal vertebral arch had been excised, using an operating microscope (Zeiss).
• a medium such as a serum-free DMEM
• Cancer cells such as neuroblastoma cells, and anaplastic oncocytes derived from the nerve system, and ES cells, in which the VHL gene of the resent invention has been introduced and expressed, differentiate into neurons, so that neurons can be provided in large quantity for neuranagenesis. Further, the use of antisense techniques enables control of differentiation of cancer cells, such as neuroblastoma cells and anaplastic oncocytes derived from the nerve system, and ES cells.
• neuroblastoma cells and anaplastic oncocytes derived from the nerve system, and ES cells, in which the VHL gene has been introduced and expressed
• these cells are grafted to the central nerve system or peripheral nerves so as to take, and allowed to function as neurons, so as to enable treatment of intractable neuronal diseases (Parkinson's disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Huntington's chorea, Alzheimer's disease, brain infarction) and spinal cord injury, brain contusion or malignant tumor, those associated with neurological functional disorder.
• intractable neuronal diseases Parkinson's disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Huntington's chorea, Alzheimer's disease, brain infarction
• spinal cord injury brain contusion or malignant tumor, those associated with neurological functional disorder.
• the mechanism of the VHL gene shown by the present invention has opened a new way for developing a new therapeutic agent which induces neuronal differentiation.
• SEQ ID NOS: 1 to 4 synthesized DNA

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• 2000
  • 2000-09-27 JP JP2002530740A patent/JP4540294B2/ja not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 2000-09-27 AU AU2000274467A patent/AU2000274467A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2000-09-27 WO PCT/JP2000/006668 patent/WO2002026977A1/ja not_active Ceased
  • 2000-09-27 GB GB0309490A patent/GB2385054B/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
• 2006
  • 2006-12-19 US US11/640,905 patent/US7601344B2/en not_active Expired - Fee Related

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